Freida Pinto's simple new avatar

Freida Pinto would be next seen in Miral, to be directed by the Oscar-nominated Julian Schnabel. It would be shot in Israel. The actress has reportedly been taking Arabic tuition to get her diction right. Sanchita Guha and Princy Jain tell more.

Check out one of the world’s sexiest women, Freida Pinto, in her simple new avatar. This look of Freida covered from head to toe, head wrapped in a scarf, is for her film Miral, directed by the Oscar-nominated Julian Schnabel, and the shoot is in Israel.

Frieda has reportedly been taking Arabic tuition to get her diction right. She plays a woman who speaks English with an Arabic accent and some Arabic dialogue is required.

The film is an adaptation of Rula Jebreal’s book about a real-life Palestinian woman, Hind Husseini (Abbas), who started the Dar Al-Tifl orphanage in Jerusalem following the 1948 partition of Palestine and the creation of Israel. Filming began on April 19 in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Miral is expected to release in spring 2010.

The cyber world is buzzing with responses appreciating her look. Says one such entry, “Let’s hope that all races, colors, religions, sizes and shapes are united in beauty.” Another blogger cheers her on: “Let’s see, is this a small side role? Perhaps so… as she is just starting out. But one thing is for sure — she is looking awesome!” A third entry reads: “The blue color suits her translucent complexion so much. She looks striking.”

While Freida has donned this traditional garb for her art, revealing photographs from her modelling days before she became famous are again in demand. Every other site now has these photos and these are getting loads of hits.Her first fashion shoot, in 2005, was with photographer Ryan Martis, who is getting requests for old photos. Martis has been quoted as saying, “She knew how to play for the camera in her very first shoot. I am delighted she is getting such attention now.”

Her pictures from the calendars of Elite, the modelling agency, are also in circulation and are sought after by the foreign and Indian media, says Sushma Puri of Elite. “Freida was a beautiful girl, very determined, which is why she got all these print and TV campaigns and we sent her for the casting of the film.”

But she never shot in the nude as alleged, says Puri, adding, “People just can’t see someone doing well.”